L-R; Chief Executive Officer, Medik 247,Dr Obioma Nwaoba, Chief Coordinating Officer, MedicAid Cancer Foundation, Dr Suraiya Mansur, a Beneficiary, Mrs. Adah Ojukwu and Admin. Officer, Medik247, Dr Kalu Kelechi, during the Free Screening programme.
Medik247, an international network of medical professionals, has flagged off a free cervical cancer screening programme for 100 women in Abuja.
The launch followed an awareness campaign launched by the organization on 13th May this year, where it called for increase in the level of public awareness about the dangers posed by cervical cancer in women, including preventive measures against the disease.
The screening is done in partnership with Medicaid Cancer Foundation, according to the Founder/ CEO of Medik247 International, Dr. Obioma Nwuba.
Nwuba, saying private partnerships “such as that between Medik247 & Medicaid Cancer Foundation” should be encouraged and used as a driving force to control the “escalating” effect of increasing new cases of cervical cancer and the dangers it portends for women and the economy of the country.
Dr. Nwuba also emphasized that cervical cancer is preventable and that all hands should be on deck to stamp out the disease. He noted that the awareness campaign and free screening was an initiative set to commemorate the 2017 International Women’s day and also Mothers’ Day in Nigeria.
He called on the government, private organizations and public-spirited individuals to support initiatives aimed at making cervical cancer screening readily available to women in the country.
While commending Medicaid Cancer Foundation for collaborating with Medik247 on the free screening, he said that more Nigerians should join in the effort to stem the rise in cases of cervical cancer, stressing that no investment is too much in ensuring affordable and widespread cervical cancer screening centers in Nigeria.
Also speaking, the Chief Coordinating Officer Medicaid Cancer Foundation, Dr. Suraiya Mohammed, noted that the foundation “is interested in the health and wellbeing of Nigerians, especially in the areas of disease prevention.”
She said the foundation was supporting exercise to raise awareness about cervical cancer prevention through free screening because of the threat it poses to women whom she noted account for greater percentage of the country’s population “and therefore plays very active roles in nation’s economy.”
She commended Medik247 for this great initiative and promised that the Foundation will continue to support worthy initiatives that are aimed at improving the health and well-being of Nigerians.
The screening which commenced on May 18, at Medicaid Radio-Diagnotics Center, Wuse 2, Abuja, ends today.